Border Eco magazine is pleased to feature Robert Thompson this month. Thompson is an individual whose voice resonates within our community. In December, he will celebrate 25 years of service with the City of Nogales. During the end of 2019 and early 2020, Mr. Thompson was the acting deputy city manager. Later in 2020 and early 2021, he was appointed as Acting City Manager. Just recently appointed as Housing Director overseeing Nogales Housing Authority while once again serving as Acting Deputy City Manager. “Nogales is an incredibly safe place to live. We have a significant law enforcement presence in the city. Our crime rates are low. We have beautiful parks and more on the way. However, we do have a shortage of housing. We have limited rental properties, which I believe has contributed to our census numbers dropping,”stated Robert Thompson Housing Director. In June of 2021, Robert was appointed executive director of the Housing Authority and stepped down from the police department. Thompson has been appointed as Acting Deputy City Manager, where he assists the Acting City Manager with daily operations. "Although my separation from the police department qualifies as a retirement, the internal move and retirement policies do not allow me to retire because I chose to remain employed by the City of Nogales."
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Robert was born in Tucson Arizona. He has lived the large majority of his life in Nogales, Arizona. In fact, he grew up in the low income apartments he currently manages, next to his office. “I see the home I grew up in daily and it reminds me of my past,” said Thompson. Robert has two children Mia and Mathew. He likes to keep his family life private. During his teenage years, he worked briefly for the Housing Authority as a maintenance worker. Over the subsequent years, he worked at WalMart and volunteered for victim services. In December 1996, he applied for a communications position at the police department and was hired. In February of 2000, he went to the police academy in Tucson Arizona and graduated in June as a peace officer. In 2003, Thompson was promoted to detective then in 2005 to Corporal. Finally in 2007, he was promoted to sergeant. While serving In this capacity, he supervised patrol officers, detectives, k-9 officers, motor officers, parking enforcement and held different capacities within the police department. In 2015, he was promoted to lieutenant where he managed all operational divisions of the police department. He successfully applied for and obtained a multitude of grants that helped the police department grow. These grants provided vehicles, and equipment, roughly estimated at $5.5 million dollars. “ My commitment is to the people of Nogales and I am willing to help in any capacity where I can make an impact. No matter where I am needed,”said Thompson.
Border Eco | November 2021 |
HUD and the City of Nogales fund the Nogales Housing Authority, which supports low-income families and individuals seeking and maintaining affordable housing. The agency serves the entire Santa Cruz County. The first houses were constructed in 1970. The development was named Casas de Anza, and we currently have a total of 226 low income apartments ranging in size from 1 to 5 bedrooms. Most likely, the name is attributed to Juan Bautista de Anza who traveled through our region. Federal Housing was started shortly after the Great Depression to address housing hardships. It has evolved into many different splinters, as with many federal programs. Through federal funds, the housing authority also established Housing Choice Vouchers, also known as Section-8, which pays a portion of a tenant’s total rent cost.
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There are presently 226 families living in our apartments, ranging in age and size. Additionally, we provide Section-9 assistance to 192 families or individuals. Recently, we were able to acquire 15 Emergency Housing Vouchers to help families and individuals who are fleeing domestic violence, are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Currently, the Nogales Housing Authority maintains: 226 Low income apartments 192 Section-8 Vouchers 15 Emergency Housing Vouchers The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides most of the funding. Rental income is deposited and appropriated to our programs. Federal funding and rent payments sustain the operation. “The difference between us and other low income apartment complexes is that we are managed by City of Nogales personnel who deal with local housing issues. In addition, we managed Section-8 vouchers for other low income apartment complexes,” said Thompson.
